The International Drinking
Water Supply and Sanitation Decade (1981-1990) and the Progresses of Rain Water
Cistern Systems

Yu-Si Fok
Water Resources Research Center University of Hawaii at Manoa, Hawii

Abstract

Rain water cistern systems have been used far domestic water supply as early
as 2000 B.C. in the Middle East. They are developed to suit various life styles
of their users in different environmental conditions.

By an unplanned coincidence, the First International Conference on Rain Water
Cistern Systems was organized by the write during the beginning of the International
Drinking Water Supply Decade (1981-1990). Subsequent ly, a series of conferences
was followed. This paper reviews recent progress in rain water cistern systems'
planning, design, development and management in some Pacific and Asian countries.
So that their efforts to meet the Water Decade's goal: to provide all people with
safe water in sufficient quantity and means to safely dispose of human waste,
can be assessed. Proceedings of the 1st 2nd, and 3rd International Conference
on Rain Water Cistern Systems are the main reference sources. Successful case
studies are analyzed for the possible application to island countries in the Pacific.